• flag_AZ
    • flag_RU

Last update

(5 hours ago)
Azerbaijan Began to Spend More on Smoking than on Health
A- A A+
The news agency Turan
The news agency Turan

Azerbaijan Began to Spend More on Smoking than on Health

According to the State Customs Committee, tobacco and tobacco products are becoming one of the most popular items in the structure of imports. For five months of this year importers spent on their purchase $ 124.7 million which is 9.9% more than in the comparable period of 2012.

 
Elkhan Ismailov, 43-year-old owner of a small shop in Baku became accustomed to smoking after his involvement in a litigation in 2006, when he lost his stake in a business without paying for the damages. "I smoke 10 cigarettes a day. I would like to give it up, but I'm afraid it's too late," he says.
 
According to NGOs, smoking gets gradually "younger". The reason is the low level of education among young people, as well as unemployment. Sociologists, among others, show the low level of social security as one of the main factors of smoking initiation at the young generation. An important role is also played by the psychological aspect - young people start smoking early, considering it an indication of entry into adulthood.
 
Labeling of tobacco products in Azerbaijan is different from their foreign counterparts. While on packs of American, European and Russian-made cigarettes there are large-font indications that "Smoking Kills", the local cigarette warning text occupies a small space on the packs and has a weaker slogan "Smoking is dangerous to your health."
 
In Azerbaijan, there is only one tobacco factory, which practically works for export. According to the committee, in the first five months of 2013 European Tobacco-Baku produced tobacco products worth 6.4 million manat, which is 13.3% less than in the same period of 2012. Last year, the production totaled 19.6 million manat (-14.6%). Since 2005, cigarette production in Azerbaijan declined from 5 billion pieces per year to 2 billion pieces (2011). In 2012, the company exported products worth $ 9.3 million (-7%).
 
Over recent years, tobacco production is gradually increasing. Only in 2012 there was collected 4,300 tons of tobacco, which is 19.3% more than in 2011. Most of the products are exported.
 
In 2012, Azerbaijan was delivered tobacco and tobacco products in the total declared amount of $ 303.6 million, which is 22.1% more than in 2011. For comparison, we note that in the mentioned period medication for a total of $ 241.7 million was purchased abroad. 
 
This pernicious tendency is peculiar to low-income populations. Of the total number of smokers, 84% live in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. In developed countries, however, the number of smokers has decreased.
 
Currently, a third of the adults worldwide smoke. The total number of smokers in the world is estimated at 1.3 billion people: approximately 1.1 billion men and 230 million women. According to the World Health Organization, the number of smokers continues to grow. If the growth trend remains unchanged, by 2025, the number of smokers will reach 1.9 billion people. -08A-

Leave a review

Economics

Follow us on social networks

News Line